2 Accused Of Animal Cruelty In Bridgeport: Police

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Two Bridgeport men were arrested Friday on animal cruelty charges, after police said the two suspects "left three dogs exposed to life-threatening cold for several hours."

Benito Islesias, 72, and Rusty Rodriguez, 46, were taken into custody at about 11:45 p.m. Friday. Rodriguez was also charged with interfering with an officer after he disregarded commands by the police and attempted to hide one of the three dogs from officers, authorities said.

The incident began in the 400 block of Union Avenue after an anonymous caller told police that dogs had been left outside in the freezing cold for several hours.

"Police found two of the dogs barking and tethered to separate dilapidated wooden shelters in the backyard," officials wrote on Facebook. "A third dog was located in the basement. There were frozen buckets of water and containers of spoiled food near the dogs. Police had to cut the restraints on the dogs to free them. Officers recorded the wind chill temperature outside to be minus-11 degrees Fahrenheit when they arrived."

The Bridgeport Police Department's Animal Control Division has taken over care of the three dogs, two pitbulls and one labradorite/pitbull mix.

"They ranged in age from 5 to 10 years old," police said, adding that the dogs are now "doing well."

Friday's incident was not the first time Bridgeport police have responded to the same address on Union Avenue on animal cruelty calls, with Islesias being arrested on animal cruelty charges in 2018. Police were also called to the same address on an animal cruelty investigation in 2023, according to authorities.

Both suspects were released after posting bond, and they are scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Friday, Jan. 30.